The Site of our Community Circle
My first program in Taipei was in 97, almost 10 years ago. Ted Lyn was my
translator back then, as he was for this program. I understand that during my
last visit I ran through two translators before they could find one that could
keep up with me. They were much too Chinese, (Asian), to tell me that I should
talk slower or speak in smaller translatable chunks. That was before Kaoru,
from Japan, trained me how to work with translators.
This time they searched for, and found Ted specifically to be this projects
translator.
Ted and I met the day before the start of the training and spent an hour going
over the material that I was to present. We set up body signals for each other
so he could tell me when he had enough information to translate or for me to
stop talking so he "could"
translate. By doing this with Ted, I could deliver whole chunks of information
during the training while Ted, referring to the charts that I brought with me,
could translate whole concepts in one go. We cut translation time in half making
more room in the training for Jump Time!
The REMO Distributer, KHS, had gathered over 75 School teachers from all over
Republic of China, (Taiwan), for this program. These teachers taught all grade
levels from 1st grade to High school. So I designed the training specifically
for school formatting and assembly
presentation, but I made lots of references to community drum circle
facilitation. Also there, were 8 returnees from last years Taipei Facilitators
Playshop and one Hawaii Graduate from this year; Ya-Wen Hsiao. Ya-Wen did not
speak English well, (Or American), So during Hawaii, I give her some privet
time, as I do with all non-english speakers at that program.
I watched Ya-Wen during the training exercises we did here in Taipei. Although
young, 25, she was confidant and always took the exercise one step further. I
thought that she would be a great model for a drum call for facilitation and a
critique. She was surprised and honored when I ask , but immediately came
back to me and asked me that, if I was to give her a public critique, could I
giver her specific parameters and tasks. I told her that she did not have to do
a "Real" drum call. I said that she had 15 minutes to run through any part of
the "Anatomy of a drum circle " Map that she wanted to experiment with.
(I need to keep telling myself to be careful as what you say to Asians, as they
will take what you say literally.)
Ya-Wen took me literately and did a drum call that was a perfect demonstration
of the four facilitator's job descriptions as it progresses through the whole
"MAP"She started with Dictator, teaching the facilitators body language by using
full group interventions. She moved on to Director as she did
Teaching-without-Teaching by sculpting full timbers for showcasing and education
of the group about the instrument make up of the drum circle.
She became the Facilitator when she sculpted a drum song platform and did call
and response with the rest of the circle. Finally she played the part of the
Orchestra Conductor, sculpting the inner circle for call and response while
having the two outer circles continue to play. But what blew me away was when
Ya-Wen brought the circle to an exciting closing by "switching" the rhythm back
and forth between the inner and outer circles, (AKA Shakerman), She modulated
the "switch sequence" to a climatic full rumble closing. The usually quite
polite and subdued group of chinese school teachers roared in applause and
vocal expression of their thanks.
I could not have done it any better myself. So I went to the middle of the
circle and did a three point floor bow to Ya-Wen in acknowledgment of her
masterful work. She fell to the floor laughing and crying at the same time. I
asked her to come to the Drum circle the next day and co-facilitate with me. She
did.
Community Drum Circle in Chin Chou
The City of Chin Chou is close to the ocean on the island of Taiwan, about one
hours drive from Taipei. Although the event was situated in the middle of the
city, in the middle of a huge traffic circle Round-About, we were actually
placed in the bottom of a cement sound bowl so the traffic noise did not
interfere with the drum circle song. Although the population consisted mostly of
families with small kids, we had a bunch of teenagers that were hanging out in
the underground pedestrian walk way that intersected at the round-about. They
were attracted to the circle's energy and joined us. There was also a group of
players who came from Taipei specifically for the drum circle event. They were
sent to the event by Sharon Wan, Hand drum teacher and Hawaii graduate. Ya-Wen
and I shared the facilitation duties equally at this circle. Because nether of
us spoke much of each others language, Eye contact and body signals were our
communication devices. We did well and so
did the circle.
Ya-Wen using the Asian attention call for stop cut.
 I
did drum call with this mixed family group drum circle and then pretty much
handed the circle over to Ya-Wen stepping in occasionally
to make a small adjustment in a groove or the group energy and to do the
closing. Ya-Wen not only GOOWed but she STOOWed, letting the
group develop their drum groove and respecting the transition points in the
music. Her GOOW spot was a seat in the center row, and she
played the djembe very well to help support the groove. (She is a 3rd year
Percussion Student and the Taipei University of Music).
With a heavy kid populated drum event, we were confronted with the dreaded
"Football Rhythm" virus that attacks Asian drum circles from time to time. This
is where every one in the circle falls into playing the Da, Da, DaDaDa foot ball
cheer rhythm. Once it is established it takes some work on the facilitators part
to break the groups habit of falling into that particular rhythm trap.
Ya-Wen solved the problum by bringing the Football Rhythm to a close and
initiating the "1 to 8" rhythm game. By having every one pick out and play one
note in an eight count, Ya-Wen set up a rhythmical platform for interactive
rhythm dialog amongst the players. A
wonderful drum song emerged from the game that allowed Ya-Wen to sit down and
play with the group for 5 minutes before the next transition point came up. If I
had tried that game, the directions would have been "Lost in Translation" and
would have been a messy start. I was impressed with Ya-Wen and so was Jane, the
REMO disrupter representative that sponsored this event. After the program Jane
had a long talk with Ya-Wen, and I am sure she will be facilitating regularly in
Taipei soon. A great time was had by all.
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